Page 13 - GRIHA Manual Volume III - Introduction to National Rating System

6 GRIHA Manual: Volume 3

Figure 1 Examples of traditional climate-responsive architecture in India

Solar-passive building design addresses indoor thermal comfort as well as visual comfort.

Solar-passive building design

Thermal comfort Visual comfort
Reduce energy
Reduce energy demand of artiicial
demand of
space-conditioning lighting

Reduction in energy consumption and GHG emission

Figure 2 Schematic diagram showing different issues addressed by solar-passive building design

Climate-responsive design strategies

As per the climatic classification of National Building Code-2005, though India has a large variety of
climate types, it is predominantly a country with tropical climate. Approximately, 90% of the area
has hot-dry, warm-humid, and composite climate. Therefore, climate-responsive buildings, in this
context, are designed to avoid the heat gain but at the same time allow adequate daylight into the
living space.
Some of the passive design strategies adopted to optimize building design that controls heat
gain and allows maximum natural light are as follows.
1. Optimum orientation;
2. Internal space arrangement (thermal buffer zone/buffer spaces);
3. Allocation of building openings;
4. Sizing of openings (limitation of window-wall-ratio and skylight-roof-ratio);
5. Appropriate shading design (façade shading and fenestration shading); and
6. Adequate daylighting (optimum daylighted area and daylight factor).

1. Optimum orientation
Optimum orientation of buildings helps in reducing the total incident solar radiation on their
surfaces. This forms the first step of climate-responsive building design.